6.0
Table Of Contents
- Getting Started with Autodesk® Mechanical Desktop®
- Autodesk® Mechanical Desktop® Tutorials
- Using the Tutorials
- Creating Parametric Sketches
- Constraining Sketches
- Creating Sketched Features
- Key Terms
- Basic Concepts of Sketched Features
- Creating Extruded Features
- Editing Extruded Features
- Creating Loft Features
- Editing Loft Features
- Creating Revolved Features
- Editing Revolved Features
- Creating Face Splits
- Editing Face Splits
- Creating Sweep Features
- Editing Sweep Features
- Creating Bend Features
- Editing Bend Features
- Creating Work Features
- Creating Placed Features
- Key Terms
- Basic Concepts of Placed Features
- Creating Hole Features
- Creating Thread Features
- Editing Hole Features
- Editing Thread Features
- Creating Face Drafts
- Editing Face Drafts
- Creating Fillet Features
- Editing Fillet Features
- Creating Chamfer Features
- Editing Chamfer Features
- Creating Shell Features
- Editing Shell Features
- Creating Surface Cut Features
- Editing Surface Cut Features
- Creating Pattern Features
- Editing Pattern Features
- Editing Array Features
- Creating Copied Features
- Editing Copied Features
- Creating Combined Features
- Editing Combined Features
- Creating Part Splits
- Editing Part Splits
- Using Design Variables
- Creating Parts
- Creating Drawing Views
- Creating Shells
- Creating Table Driven Parts
- Assembling Parts
- Combining Parts
- Assembling Complex Models
- Key Terms
- Basic Concepts of Complex Assemblies
- Starting the Assembly Process
- Creating Local and External Parts
- Applying Assembly Constraints
- Creating New Parts
- Creating Subassemblies
- Completing Assemblies
- Editing Mechanical Desktop Parts
- Reloading External References
- Reviewing Assembly Models
- Creating Bills of Material
- Finishing Drawings for Plotting
- Creating and Editing Surfaces
- Combining Parts and Surfaces
- Surfacing Wireframe Models
- Key Terms
- Basic Concepts of Surfacing Wireframe Models
- Surfacing Wireframe Models
- Creating Trimmed Planar Surfaces
- Joining Surfaces on Complex Shapes
- Creating Swept and Projected Surfaces
- Creating Complex Swept Surfaces
- Using Projection to Create Surfaces
- Using Advanced Surfacing Techniques
- Viewing Completed Surfaced Models
- Working with Standard Parts
- Creating Shafts
- Calculating Stress on 3D Parts
- Toolbar Icons
- Desktop Tools
- Part Modeling
- Part Modeling ‰ New Part
- Part Modeling ‰ New Sketch Plane
- Part Modeling ‰ 2D Sketching
- Part Modeling ‰ 2D Constraints
- Part Modeling ‰ Profile a Sketch
- Part Modeling ‰ Sketched Features
- Part Modeling ‰ Placed Features
- Part Modeling ‰ Work Features
- Part Modeling ‰ Power Dimensioning
- Part Modeling ‰ Edit Feature
- Part Modeling ‰ Update Part
- Part Modeling ‰ Part Visibility
- Part Modeling ‰ Options
- Toolbody Modeling
- Assembly Modeling
- Surface Modeling
- Surface Modeling ‰ AutoSurf Options
- Surface Modeling ‰ Swept Surface
- Surface Modeling ‰ Loft U Surface
- Surface Modeling ‰ Blended Surface
- Surface Modeling ‰ Flow Wires
- Surface Modeling ‰ Object Visibility
- Surface Modeling ‰ Surface Display
- Surface Modeling ‰ Stitches Surfaces
- Surface Modeling ‰ Grip Point Placement
- Surface Modeling ‰ Lengthen Surface
- Surface Modeling ‰ Extract Surface Loop
- Surface Modeling ‰ Edit Augmented Line
- Surface Modeling ‰ Wire Direction
- Scene
- Drawing Layout
- Mechanical View
- Index
Basic Concepts of Complex Assemblies | 479
Basic Concepts of Complex Assemblies
Assemblies can consist of any number of externally referenced and local parts.
You can also have any number of subassemblies, both local and externally
referenced. The advantage to having externally referenced parts and subas-
semblies is that you can use the files in any number of assembly files.
In complex assemblies, the same part is often used in multiple locations. Each
part definition defines a unique part. By instancing a part definition, you can
create multiple copies of a part while maintaining only one definition in your
drawing. Any change to the part definition affects all instances of the part.
After building the assembly, you check for interference between the parts, and
perform mass properties calculations to ensure that the parts are designed cor-
rectly. If a design change affects a part used in more than one assembly, make
the change in the external file.
In a previous tutorial, you made changes to an external part from within an
assembly file by editing in place. In this tutorial, you open an external file and
modify it directly. Then you update the assembly file to reflect the changes,
set up scenes to illustrate the assembly, in both exploded and non-exploded
views, create a parts list, and finalize the drawing for plotting.
Starting the Assembly Process
There are two ways to approach the design process; start by thinking about
how the assembly is organized and decide the order in which to instance the
local and external parts into the assembly, or start designing immediately
and then reorganize the hierarchy of the assembly as needed, using assembly
restructure. Constraints are maintained with parts and subassemblies that are
moved in the restructure process.
The assembly restructure feature provides more flexibility in the design pro-
cess. You can place or create an assembly of components at a single level and
subsequently adjust the assembly structure, grouping components into sub-
assemblies for manufacturing, inventory, and other uses.
For more information about using assembly restructure, see “Restructuring
Assemblies” on page 504.